Emiratisation is a government program launched initially in 2006 by the UAE to raise the representation of Emiratis in the workforce in order to boost their contribution to the national economy.
While the public sector has made significant progress in implementing the program since its adoption, the private sector has been slower. Originally, the Emiratisation required companies in the UAE with more than 50 employees to hire 1 Emirati for every 50 skilled workers employed. From 2023, however, it requires also smaller companies with 20 to 49 employees to comply with the Emiratisation by hiring at least one UAE citizen in 2024 and another in 2025.
The new requirement applies to privately-owned firms registered across mainland UAE. Non-compliant companies face fines of up to AED 108,000 (USD 30,000) if they fail to meet the hiring quotas. The UAE government has been progressively increasing Emiratisation targets aiming for 10% Emirati representation in the UAE workforce by the end of 2026 to ensure greater employment opportunities for UAE citizens.
Are you an employer in the private sector? Want to know more about the UAE Emiratisation? Drop us an email (office@alphaprimedwc.ae) or give us a call (+971 58 515 2374) at any time to discuss whether it applies to you and how to comply.
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